Sebastian saw the woman's eyebrows shoot up, though it seemed involuntary as the rest of her features remained somewhat impassive. In honesty he had expected a more vigorous reaction. He himself had charged from a meeting which had been the only thing he had looked forward to in days, shouting uncharacteristically and running rather ungracefully. Yet this healer, or Doctor, could do little more than raise her brow. He knew people who had grown far more accustomed to life here in Eronnis than himself but such a locked expression was disconcerting and, frankly, a little irritating. Yet he mimicked the lack of revealed emotion and allowed her to speak, learning her name and incredibly coincidental proximity to his own homeplace.
βThe others are American, though the number we have grows less as time goes by. Which is why I need your help.β He knew it was a risk to confide in a stranger but he was running out of people and options. There was no one in Eronnis he could trust, not even Kali. She was a killer under orders and if those orders ever changed he knew she'd obey. No, the truth had to be kept to those who needed to know.
But the truth was not easy to find. It was locked away and the keys were visible if only someone knew where to look. And so Sebastian looked, his eyes flickered downwards, a gesture of awkwardness to hide his intent. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, which was typical, his own item was obviously a relic of this land itself and would not stand out to anyone. Thus far only Flin, who had recently done a disappearing act himself, had acquired something which, Sebastian assumed, had transported him here that resembled an object from home. Which is why he needed to find the man again. As well as see what Rhiannon had gathered through her journey here.
The news that she was being held against her will (Possibly) was unsettling. The options left for him were to make the trip to the barracks whenever they needed to converse or to get her out from under the watchful eye of the Union soldiers. Each had downfalls. He doubted he would be spending much longer here in Vestern, whatever information he could gleam from this city had been religiously noted down already. And breaking Rhiannon out was a criminal offense, not good for someone under the care of the Union also. However, there was one major difference between the two of them β His care held sway over most of the soldiers in the city should she call for the need. True, they were supposed to be avoiding detection, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
βAs a Doctor, I'd imagine they'd be keeping you here to help with the frontline casualties. The Rebels get more daring by the week and it seems to me that you've already made an impression by sending for your equipment to be forged.β
It was a fair assumption but not even he believed it. It seemed more likely that someone with such advanced knowledge of medicine would be more likely to attend a tribunal of some description and answer questions about where such training came from. The answers, Sebastian thought, were not ones he would like to make public knowledge if possible.
And then he was forced to think fast again, his easy entry came under scrutiny.
βA man in a plain, black traveling cloak bearing the trader's insignia is unlikely to be anything but a trader. What possible damage could I do surrounded by soldiers?β
Sebastian may have spoken believable words but the truth of the matter was that he had had dealings with the lower branches of the military recently and his passage was pretended to be ignored in order to prevent attention being brought to him from the higher ranking officers. If these people were holding Rhiannon against her will he really did not wish for her to know that he was friendly with them, at least not yet. Kali, however, was an altogether different matter. She held power, as did Leech, over most soldiers here. He could not invoke names on anyone's behalf but he could certainly ask them each to help the situation. Surely there could be some lie or other that would facilitate her quiet release -
Damn you Sebastian, these lies are getting too much for you to handle and your loose tongue has fetched you enough trouble already over the past few weeks. Stick to the truth!
Another mental telling-off from himself.
He leaned in even closer yet, eyes casting to the sides to ensure they were not being watched. βI may know somebody who could help you. And if not, I'll find a way to get you out of here. I want to get home and I think you can help me do that. I'll do whatever it takes to make this happen.β
The usual passive professor demeanor had vanished, replaced by a passionate, homesick and desperate intellectual with an overwhelming desire for a decent latte. His eyes burned with a renewed sense of purpose and he felt excitement flowing through his veins, an adrenaline-charged lust to carry out a thousand tasks at once. Not since first beginning to gather information that might bring him closer to home had he felt so alive.
And that called for the end, he thought, of this conversation at least. A few dodgy deals with weapons of a questionable origin wasn't enough to keep him ignored forever. Sebastian straightened himself up and tipped his head in a formal manner, speaking loud enough to be heard by anyone in the close vicinity now..
βMiss Bartlett, it was a pleasure to meet you. I'll return with your equipment as soon as Master Sholtane has completed his work. Good day.β
And with that he turned on his heel and strolled out of the infirmary, exchanging a nod with the guard at the entrance whom he had traded with but days before on his way, and took a lungful of fresh β Or what could pass as fresh this close to the market β air, followed by another. Half a dozen deep breaths later and he carried on his way, no longer paying attention to the stallowners who were attempting to flog their wares desperately before the sun sunk low in the sky on the last day before the controversial festival would begin. And the celebrations, it seemed, had already began, as what seemed like a small riot had started to consume the far side of the marketplace.